Are electric cars slow? Are electric cars boring?

When speaking about electric vehicles, some people still think about the milkman’s float – a silent, slow and gangly van that’s far from entertaining or eventful. While electric cars lack the snarl and aggression of a V8, or the manual interaction of a sports car, they are by no means boring.

In fact, they’ve come a long way from that milkman’s float. In a few years’ time, if you’re looking to purchase the fastest production car available, chances are that it will be electric.

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Fastest-ever car is electric

The instant torque from an electric motor means an electric car can accelerate quickly. The Tesla Model S P100D can already accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.7 seconds, making it faster than most supercars including the Ferrari 488 and Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

However, Tesla is aiming to take things even further. The US electric vehicle manufacturer recently unveiled the second-generation Roadster. The company says the sports car will be able to do 0-60mph in 1.9 seconds, making it the fastest-ever production car. The Roadster’s top speed is also set to be above 250mph.

Racing series

Electric cars also have their own racing series. The most famous is the Formula E championship; now in its fourth season, the series is growing in both format and talent. Manufacturers such as Jaguar and Audi are already signed up and competing in the series, with others such as Mercedes signed up for upcoming seasons.

The racing is close and entertaining, with the single-seater series attracting plenty of former F1 drivers. It’s also the testing ground for many manufacturers looking to get into the electric vehicle industry.

Electric cars can also be good fun to drive

The latest Jaguar I-Pace is proof that the fun, involving driving dynamics of petrol and diesel cars can be transferred to electric vehicles. The I-Pace is our sister title Auto Express’ Car of the Year, largely thanks to its excellent performance and driving dynamics.